Best For Me | jensoo

Chapter 20

Jennie lay on the couch, her feet up on a pillow and her ankles looking just a bit swollen. She felt huge. She was pretty sure she was huge. And tired. And hot. A hand came out of nowhere and gently wiped her brow with a cool facecloth.

She smiled. "You're way too good to me."

"You looked warm," Jisoo grinned, leaning on the back of the couch. "You okay?"

"Yup. Just about the size of a beached whale and unable to lie on anything but my back. Makes sleeping a bit difficult." Jennie yawned, illustrating her sentence nicely.

"Aww. You should nap."

"I'm trying, but it's damned uncomfortable. Ugh." She rolled slightly to one side but that didn't help. Wincing, she put a hand on her swollen abdomen. Jisoo was kneeling in front of her in a flash.

"What is it? Are you in labour? Do we need to go?" The brunette looked so troubled Jennie couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

"Jisoo, calm down. It's fine."

"You're not in labour?"

"No," she grinned. "Braxton Hicks."

"Bra-whooey?" Jisoo looked thoroughly confused.

"Braxton-Hicks. They're false contractions," Jennie explained with a smile.

"But, but, how can you tell them from the real contractions?"

"I don't know. You just can," Jennie said. "They feel different. I promise, when the time comes, I'll tell you. A whole week, remember?"

"I remember," Jisoo smiled, seating herself on the floor next to Jennie and wiping the blonde's brow carefully. "I also remember your doctor saying that you could be early."

"Or late," Jennie pointed out.

"Or late," Jisoo agreed. "Or, right on time. Speaking of time, when is Elly due back?"

"Jongin was dropping her off around five, so not too long. He has to fly out to Japan tonight. Prepare for her to be extra clingy."

Jisoo raised an eyebrow. "She'll miss him?"

"No. Well, maybe. I don't know. They've spent a lot more time with each other lately but I get the feeling that she can take it or leave it. She never talks to me about Jongin." And that saddened Jennie. The younger woman felt fingers squeeze her own in understanding. "But more that she's been to his parents' house and she hates it there."

"Oh?" A look of surprise crossed the brunette's face.

"They're all kinds of pristine and perfect. It's not exactly fun for a four-year-old. She's not allowed to touch anything and they don't have any games. She ends up sitting on the couch with Mr Ruffles. Plus, Jongin's parents don't sign. Normally, I would go with them, but it's not really appropriate today. If I wasn't waddling, perhaps."

"Oh, poor Elly!" Jisoo exclaimed. "I wish I'd gone with her."

"Oh, now, explaining that could have been amusingly awkward," Jennie grinned.

The doorbell rang and Jisoo got up to answer it. It would have taken Jennie a few hours to get up anyway. Jongin came in with a giggling Elly and Mr Ruffles in his arms.

"Fluffin' here is all ready. I hope you realise that Mom fed her more red Kool-Aid than I thought she could ever consume." Jongin smiled and put Elly down. She ran off, trailing Mr Ruffles in one hand, and disappeared into her room.

"Well, I'd tell you off but that would involve effort," Jennie called out cheerfully from the couch.

Jongin moved so that he was sitting down next to her knees and put a hand gently on her stomach. Jennie flinched slightly, an unconscious move. It was the first time that Jongin had really touched her in eight months, since they'd parted. He withdrew his hand.